Don't buy a cheap Android phone without these non-negotiable features

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Android phones can be had at many different price points, but the most important features aren't always found in the cheapest available devices. 12, 2026 8:30 pm EST Karlis Dambrans/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover You don't have to spend an arm and a leg on an Android phone, even if it's brand-new. Google is an Internet and software company based in Mountain View.

You can find plenty of great cheap Android phone options for $300 or less, if you know what to look for. And that's the biggest thing to consider: knowing what features are crucial to have and where you can make concessions.

Paying less for a phone that doesn't have a sleek titanium frame, for example, is totally fine; you probably will (and should) put a case on it, anyway. But getting a phone with insufficient RAM, horrible battery life, poor cameras, a bad processor, or a small screen is where you want to draw the line.

In some cases, what you're willing to sacrifice is an individual decision. If you're a casual content creator, for example, the cameras need to be at least above average. But if you're getting a secondary phone for basic messaging, you may be fine with just decent cameras.